By Ado Oyeyemi
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the transfer of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to the Kuje Correctional Centre to begin serving his 75-year jail term over the misappropriation of about ₦33.8bn in public funds.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission produced the former minister in court following his arrest in Kaduna State after weeks of evading authorities.
Mamman had earlier been convicted in absentia on May 13 after he failed to appear for the conclusion of his trial. The court subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest after he allegedly jumped bail.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, a relative of the former minister, Shamsudeen Mohammed, disclosed that Mamman escaped from Abuja to Kaduna in a chartered taxi shortly after his conviction.
According to Mohammed, the former minister remained in Abuja when judgment was delivered but travelled to Kaduna two days later.
He told the court that Mamman was seriously ill and had resorted to taking traditional medication while avoiding hospitals for fear of being apprehended.
“I was helping him to take his traditional medicine. He was brought by taxi from Abuja to Kaduna,” Mohammed said.
The witness further stated that he had no knowledge of the owner of the apartment where the ex-minister was allegedly hiding in the Rigasa area of Kaduna, adding that the property was rented.
Mamman, who appeared subdued in the dock, informed the court that ill health prevented him from attending previous proceedings.
However, Justice Omotosho dismissed his plea for leniency and reminded him that the prison term had commenced immediately.
“The sentence starts to run from today. You were in Abuja when the judgment was passed. You left alone in a taxi to Kaduna,” the judge stated.
He subsequently directed the EFCC to hand the convict over to correctional authorities in Kuje for the commencement of his sentence.
Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency also sought a court order for the forfeiture of five additional properties allegedly linked to the former minister.
EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that the properties included Walijam Apartments in Wuse 2, Abuja; Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited in Kaduna; two mansions on Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A Plaza located on Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Justice Omotosho, however, postponed hearing on the forfeiture request to allow the convict secure legal representation.
The judge fixed June 8 for the hearing and ordered that Mamman be personally served with the forfeiture application.
The court had earlier found the former minister guilty on all 12 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering filed against him by the EFCC.
He received seven-year prison terms on 10 counts, while counts four and five attracted three years and two years imprisonment respectively.
The sentences are to run consecutively without an option of fine, except for count four where the court imposed a ₦10m fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of multiple assets and foreign currencies linked to the convict, alongside the repayment of ₦22bn earmarked for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
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Among the forfeited assets were a four-bedroom duplex in Kado District, Abuja, two semi-detached buildings and another property located in Wuse District of the Federal Capital Territory.
